Dual-responsive inverse opal films based on a crosslinked liquid crystal polymer containing azobenzene

Novel photo and thermal dual-responsive inverse opal films were fabricated based on a crosslinked liquid crystal polymer (CLCP) containing azobenzene. Accompanying the deformation of the CLCP, switchable behavior on the reflection spectra of the inverse opal film was induced by light or temperature. We found that the optical properties were drastically decreased by thermal or photoinduced phase transitions of the CLCP. It was also found that the extent of decrease in the heat-induced inverse opal film is much more than in the one induced by light.